Fumigating device.



N. O. MELLOTT.

FUMIGAIING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. a, 1911.

1,287,389. Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

2 SHEETS-S EET I.

venfo'c NORRIS O. MELLOTT, 0F HARPER, CALIFORNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

FUMIGATING nnvrcn.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

Application filed February 5, 1917. Serial No, 146,786.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Norms O. MnLLo'r'r, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Harper, in the county of Orange, and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFumigating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tree culture appliances and has more especialreference to an improved fumigating device.

The dominant object of the invention is to provide means for efiioientlyfumigating, trees, whereby, all parts of the same will be disinfected,the tree being enveloped by the fumigating means to prevent the escapeof the fumes of the disinfectant, and also, to prevent the Waste of thesame.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a knock down orsectional fumigating device, whereby, the same may be set up about treesvarying in size and shape in a minimum amount of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable cover orroof for the fumigating device so that the area or space within the samemay be limited to accord with the height of the tree or trees to befumigated, thus, preventing Waste of the disinfectant.

Among other aims and objects of the invention may be recited theprovision of a device of the character mentioned with a view tocompactness, and in which the number of parts are few, the constructionsimple, the cost of production small, and efficiency and operation high.7

The invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and thecombinations of parts of the device, as well as in the details ofconstruction of the same, all of which will be more fully described inthe following specification and then finally embodied in the clauses ofthe claim which is appended to the specification and which forms anessential part of the same.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:.

Figure 1 is a perspective of my improved sectional fumigating deviceFig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same with one of the wallsthereof removed;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the fumigator showing thearrangement of the roof thereon when in adjusted position;

Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the wall fastening means;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail in perspective of a portion of the roof;and

Fig. 6 is a top plan of a slightly modified form of fumigator.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the abovedescribed views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now more specifically to the several figures of the saiddrawings, there is provided a plurality of wall sections, generallyindicated by the numeral 5, which wall sections comprise substantiallyrectangular shaped frames 6 having arranged transversely thereof atspaced apart intervals cross bars or braces 7, it being noted, that thespace between certain of the cross bars 7 varies. Over one face of thewalls 5 there is arranged a suitable covering 8, the said covering beingsecured in position upon its respective wall frames 6 by embedding thetop, bottom and side edges within suitable grooves formed within theadjacent portion of the said frames. To retain the edges of the covering8 in proper position with respect to the rectangular frame 6, a suitablecement-may be employed or by arranging beading adjacent the jointure ofthe said covering with the grooves in the various portions of the frame6 or by passing fastening devices through the same the covering may bealso properly secured. In order that the mucus walls 5 may be maintainedin proper assembled relation when the fumigating device is set up abouta tree the opposite side portions 6 of the said walls are provided withrounded tongues and grooves 9 and 10, respectively, the tongue of onewall being adapted to interlock with the adjacent groove upon the nextwall. Those edges of the said side portions adjacent the tongues 9 arebeveled as at 9 the purpose of which will be subsequently apparent. Byso connecting the walls, it will be appreciated, that undue lateralmovement of the same when arranged in set up position about a tree orthe device be to fumigated will be prevented. Other grooves are arrangedlongitudinally upon the inner faces of the various cross bars 7 andprovide means for receiving an adjustable cover or roof therebetween,the construction of which will be more fully hereinafter described.

Arms 11 having bifurcated end portions 12 and a plurality of apertures13 formed therein are secured to certain of the ends of the cross bars 7and project beyond their respective walls 5, whereby, eye bolts asarranged in proximity to the same upon the' adjacent section orspecifically, upon the adjacent cross bars may be received between thesaid bifurcated portions 12 thereof, the eye bolts being indicated bythe numeral 14 and secured in position'upon the cross bars 7 by means ofeye screws 15 which are engaged with the looped extremities of the same.To lock the eye bolts 14 within the bifurcated portions 12 of the saidarms 11, wing nuts 16 are turned into engagement with the screw threadedextremity thereof. It of course, is to be understood that suitablefastening devices are passed through the apertures 13 formed within thearms 11, whereby the same may be rigidly secured to the various arms ofthe walls 5.

An opening 17 is formed within the lower portion 1 of the wall 5 and hasarranged adjacent the sides of the same a pair of vertically disposedgrooved guide strips 18, the opposite ends of which are secured to theadjacent cross bars 7. A door 19 is slidably mounted between saidgrooved guide strips 18 and is provided upon the opposite side portionsthereof, with suitable tongues adapted for reception in the saidgrooves. By providing the opening within the wall 5', it is evident,that the placing of the disinfecting means within the fumigating deviceis facilitated, and that when the said disinfectant means are properlyplaced, the door 19 may be readily moved to its closed position. Thus,the escape or waste of the fumes of the disinfectant will be prevented.

A cover comprising an approximately square frame 20 having a covering 21arranged thereover is adapted to be received by the upper portion of thefumigating device, and is of a size to permit the sliding of the same tovarious positions therein. The outer marginal edges of the frame 20 areof a width to permit the same to be readily received between the alinedgrooves or ways formed within the inner faces of the cross arm 7, thus,the roof may be adjusted to various positions within the fumigatingdevice, depending upon the height of the tree to be fumigated.Furthermore, by varying the spacing between the cross arms 7 the roofmay be accurately adjusted to the height of the tree, whereby to causethe same to be thoroughly fumigated and to prevent the waste of thedisinfectant. Hooks 22 are pivotally engaged with the side portions ofthe roofing frame 20, by means of suitable eye screws and are adapted toengage eyelets 23 arranged upon the upper marginal edges of the crossbars 7 of the various wall frames 6 and as a consequence, the said roofmay be securely maintained in position upon the top or upper extremitiesof the walls 5.

With a view toward providing fumigating devices which may be snuglyarranged about trees varying in size and shape, it is to be understoodthat I may change the shape of the roof or cover to conform there to. Tothis end, I have shown in Fig. 6 a triangnlarly shaped disinfectingdevice,

indicating the same in its entirety by the numeral 24. The triangularfumigating device is constructed in exact accordance as the devicehereinbefore described, the beveled edges 9 permitting the roundedtongues to properly adjust themselves in their respective grooves toform the triangular shape. A roof 25 is provided and is of a shape tocorrespond to the shape of the housing 24, the roof being capable ofvertical adjustment within the said housing \vherebv the same in av beadapted to trees of varying heights.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated by workers in the art that Ihave provided an exceedingly simple f umigating device and one whichwill be readily assembled and disassembled in a minimum period of time.

Furthermore, by varying the shape of the fumigating device, the same maybe applied to trees of practically any shape and will by snuglyenveloping the tree, cause the fumes from the disinfectant to bethoroughly circulated about and through the same.

I desire to have it understood, that the improved fumigating device maybe constructed of any size, such as conditions or preference maydictate, and further, that instead of forming the side walls of frame,over which frame suitable coverings are arranged, I may construct thesame of single I pieces of material, such as wood, metal or the like.

As indicated, I do not wish to be understood as confining the inventionto the particular embodiments chosen for illustration fairly fall withinthe spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

In a device of the character described, a sectional skeleton "structureincluding vertical and horizontal pieces, said horizontal pieces beingarranged in alined sets and having grooves formed in their inner faces,brackets carried adjacent certain of the marginal portions of theskeleton structure sections, bolts pivoted to the remaining marginalportions of said sections engageable with said brackets for detachablyconnecting the sections, panels for the skeleton structure sections, oneof said anels having 5 a way therein, a closure slidallfly arrangedadjacent the Way in said panel, and a top having a marginally disposedtongue arpieces.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

NORRIS o. MELLOTT.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

